paid sick days

In the absence of state action, local jurisdictions across Texas have listened to the needs of their constituents and responded to calls to pass local ordinances that seek to raise standards for working families. Cities and municipalities have passed laws

We all perform better on the job when we are healthy, and it puts us all at risk when workers have to go in sick. That’s why a growing number of cities, counties, and states are enacting policies to ensure

Earlier this year, Austin made history when the city council passed the first paid sick days ordinance in Texas. Businesses and communities benefit from this common-sense policy because paid sick days improve the health and well-being of working people

This post was written by Economic Opportunity Intern Danielle Zaragoza
All workers, regardless of education, race, or the kind of job they have should be able to provide for themselves and their families. A new peer-reviewed study by Cleveland State University

All Texans should be able to care for themselves or a loved one if they get sick, regardless of what kind of job they do or how much they earn. Approximately 4.3 million Texas workers – or 40 percent of

All workers, regardless of what kind of job they have or how much they earn, should be able to care for themselves or a loved one in time of illness. Unfortunately, too many Texans are forced to choose between their

This blog was written by Economic Opportunity Intern Anna Crockett and Economic Opportunity Director Chandra Villanueva.
Texas has one of the highest poverty rates in the country, despite having some of the country’s hardest workers. Though our state is a national

Just after midnight on Thursday, the Austin City Council passed an ordinance allowing all Austin workers to earn paid sick time, making Austin the first city in Texas – and the first city in the South – to adopt a

Photo: Trey Perry, Creative Commons License 2.0
Earlier this week the respected, independent, non-partisan Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) released a new cost-benefit analysis of the proposed paid sick leave ordinance for Austin workers. The IWPR found that the ordinance could

Communities and businesses in Austin could see over $8 million in annual net savings should Austin implement the paid sick leave ordinance sponsored by Council Member Casar and co-sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Tovo, Council Member Ann Kitchen, and Council